The King was reportedly blocked as he tried to check on the wellbeing of his long-time friend, the adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, after being alerted to concerns about his declining health and isolation.
King left “most concerned”
Charles was left “most concerned” about 82-year-old Sir Ranulph, who has not been seen in public for two years, after fellow explorer Anton Bowring wrote to him in February last year asking for his help, The Telegraph revealed.
But Sir Ranulph’s wife Louise Millington-Cotes was said to have blocked the King’s attempts to reach out, the newspaper said.
Letter to the palace
The Press Association understands Bowring sent a letter to the monarch’s principal private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, saying Sir Ranulph was “in a very poor state” and had been in the care of his wife since the previous September and that his friends were worried.
The King’s then-equerry Commander William Thornton contacted Bowring later the same month saying Charles wanted to write to Sir Ranulph, Ms Millington-Cotes and their daughter Elizabeth to express his concern and see if there was anything he could do anything to help.
He also asked for Ms Millington-Cotes’ phone number, but she reportedly fired off angry text messages to Bowring after Buckingham Palace was given her details.
Calls for investigation
Famous friends of Sir Ranulph, including Bear Grylls, Ben Fogle, Joanna Lumley, John Simpson and Monty Don have spoken out about the situation in recent weeks, with growing calls for an investigation into his wellbeing by both the police and the Office of the Public Guardian.
Survivalist Grylls declared “Ran we are coming!” and called him a “true British icon”, and said reports of his isolation and treatment in care homes were “deeply disturbing”.
Sir Ranulph is said to have been moved to care homes in Wales and Cheshire in the past year under an assumed identity, but his current whereabouts are unknown.
